Research

Studies in fish

Exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds at an early life stage can cause sex change in fishes, but little is known about how this influences population size or the overall fecundity of a population. We recently published work in Environmental Science and Technology describing how masculinization or feminization of group spawners such as Menidia species impacts overall reproductive output. In summation, we found that masculinization can be more detrimental than feminization.

A paper just published in Scientific Reports demonstrates that silverside offspring sexual differentiation and fecundity, as well as sex ratio, are influence by parental exposure to EDCs and increased temperatures. In ongoing work, silversides are being exposed to known EDCs to determine effects on gene expression and DNA methylation. All endpoints are being evaluated over three generations to examine the potential for trans-generational effects. This work is currently funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Science to Achieve Results).

Studies in invertebrates

We recently detected a byproduct of the insecticide fipronil in the eggs and ovaries of blue crab females (Callinectes sapidus) sampled from regional estuaries (Southeastern NC and Northeastern SC). In a follow-up study, naive juvenile crabs were exposed in the lab to fipronil and the detected byproduct, fipronil desulfinyl. Responses included altered growth and decreased expression of genes involved in growth and reproduction. This study was funded in part by North Carolina Sea Grant, a blog post about the research can be found here.

Students are using an interdisciplinary approach enabled by a collaboration between the Biology and Chemistry departments to study the trophic transfer of microplastics from zooplankton species such as rotifers and favellids to larval fish, and the toxic effects of plastic exposure. This work was recently featured in the new documentary A Plastic Ocean (2017). Brander and collaborators have also recently been funded by the NOAA Marine Debris program to continue this work.